St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-16
Mr.. Gravius and Mr.. 0verton, With
Friends of the Family, Testify in
the Overton Divorce Case.
The Council Ell cots William Hamm to
Succeed Aid. starkey, and Chooses
Aid. Kerr President.
A Case In Court of Alleged adultery
and A Omitted Bt@amy in
One Family.
DR.. Jones Appointed Health Com
missioner on the
West Side--Notes.
GRAvIUS ALSO DENIES 1T.
Another Day Devoted TO the Testi.
mOny in the OvertOn Divorce case
--Mr. OvertOn Again Testifies.

Another Day Devoted TO the Testi-
mOny in the OvertOn Divorce Case
--Mr. OvertOn Again Testifies.
Charles Gravius, the youthful, rather eff
feminate-looking man, accused by John b.
Overton of having been guilty OF criminal
intimacy with Mrs. Overton, occupied the
witness stand yesterday forenoon and part
of the afternoon in the Oyerton divorce
case. He has q weak voice, acts rather
nervous as if half frightened, and might be
taken for an invalid. In the direct eXami-
nation by MI. Erwin'for the defense he
testified that he came here for the benefit OF
his health from Illinois, where he had a
malarial complaint. He became acquainted
with Mrs Overton at Taylor's Falls. He
called upon the Overtons in st. Paul and
became very friendly with them.
l asked Mrs. Overton ii they had spare
room. They had, and accommodated me.
When Mrs. Overton went home TO her
mothers i accompanied her as far as Chi
cago. When she returned home she became
very ill., and | did what l could to help her.
Lived with the family four years, and became
very intimate with Unemployed dominos
with Mr.. Overton. The first knew of suS-
picions against me was on September Is,
1885, when q man called at my store, said be
was a detective, had been watching me, knew
of the alleged criminal relations between me
and Mrs. Overton, had memoranda of dates,
places ETC., and if / would not give him
money TO keep the matter quiet, he would
tell Mr. Overtou. | told Mrs. Overton that
afternoon. | said would tell Mr.. Overton.
In the evening l met Overton, who said, If
you value your life get out of here, acting
as if he would pull Il revolver.
At the request of Mrs. Mayo, OF Portland
Me, Mrs. Overton's sister, sent SO TO en-
able Mrs. Overton TO return home. l next
saw her at White Bear. After Mrs. Oyerton
came home to Grand avenue asked her to
ride with me. / called upon her ut different
times last fall, staying for short periods dur
ing the evenings, when Mr.. Overton was
absent from home. On Nov. II called, upon
Mrs. Overton's invitation, and stayed until
IL o'clock. Was there Nov. 20, when Mr.
Overtou came home and entered the room
and exclaimed. Now I've got him." was
frightened and ran away. L would not have.
ran if had known Detective Cleveland was
there. ! had no evil intentions and nothing
improper ever occurred between me and Mrs
Overton and myself. When living upon Nor
ris street / heard Mr.. Overton swear at his
wife, at any and all times and before
anybody. Oyerton refused 10 go for doctor
during her illness. At Mr.. Oyerton's request
used to take Mrs. Overtou home from the
doctors. We never lay together in the ham
mock-always sat up. l never went upstairs
with her, never put my arms around her,
uGfSE hlSSCu
THE CROSS EXAMINATION.
Cross examined by Mr.. O'Brien-If in the
municipal court l said kissed Mrs. Overton,
it was mistake. l didn't tell the policeman
who went with me to get bail that could
prove Mrs. Overtou an improper charac ter
never told Turnkey Davis at the Jail that If
ever got out of this scrape no woman would
ever get me into another. OvertOn always
treated me kindly, but was cruel to his wife.
] sat frequently with Mrs. Overton in the
hammock. Once / gave the little girl q
rocker, and once | gave Mrs. Overton an
easle. ] often went walking with the chill
dren and took them out driving. l didn't see
any harm in associating with Mrs. Overton.
1 am u bachelor. l went to Mrs. Overton S
because we had both been accused and
wanted to talk matters over with her. Thought
Mr.. Overton knew about it. She told me
about her husband being sullen and his
drunkenness. Did not know we were watched
by detectives.
DR.. Walther, Mrs. Overton's physician for
some years, was called for the defense. He
said he attended Mrs. Overton for a miscar-
riage July 2, 1884. He did not think the mis-
carriage was criminally caused. In 1883,
owing to certain complaints made by Mrs.
Overton as to her physical condition, / adj
Vised moderation and abstinence in respect to
the marital relations of Mr.. and Mrs. Over
ton. He advised Mr.. OvertOn similarly. She
never had any disease or symptoms that in
subsequently, with certain aniline drugs. ]
think an accusation charging her with inti-
deity would very much effect her physical
condition through sympathy with her mind.
] ceased to be her physician in 1885.
ross-eXamined--Have seen Mrs. Oyerton
occasionally since December, 1854. Sometimes
she was very cheerful and happy; other times
she was Just the reverse Except hearsay,
did not know that other than happy rela-
tionS existed between Mr.. and Mrs. Overton.
The pregnancy that resulted in miscarriage
lasted three months. 1t was q surprise to
me. She did not suffer other than normal
effects. Don't think the miscarriage was
produced by medicine.
Mrs. Marshall, of Igehart street. who was
1er neighbor when Mrs. Overton lived on
Saltwater street, and Mrs. Adelaide Cary, of
Isl Carroll street, who has been acquainted
with Mrs. Overton since 1875, testified to her
good character-knew nothing against her
character and reputation. She was they
said. an excellent and devoted mother, and
her chastity was never suspected.
Stanley Chase, of White Bear, testified for
the defense that he roomed with the Over
tons on Norris street. Mr.. Overton fire.
quently swore at his wife, and was cross for
short periods. So far as he knew, Mrs.
overton's character had always been good in
respect to her chastity. When Overton was
cross and ugly to his wife, she would go OH
and cry.
Charles W. Snyder, whose guest Mrs.
OvertOn was at White Bear, and who occu-
pied one-half OF the house and Mrs. Chase
he other. testified that Mrs. Overton's con-
duct toward her children was always good.
Ind her character was above leproach. The
relations between her and Mr.. Gravus at
White Bear, he said, was the same as those
between any lady and gentleman.
The deposition of Mrs. Alice Il. Mayo,
Mrs. OvertOn'S sister, taken by stipulation
It Portland. Me-, was read by Mr.. Phillips.
1t revealed little that was new in the case.
Mrs. John Doeren, a seanstress, residing
It els Fourth street, who las known Mr..
md Mrs. OVerton since they came to st.
Paul, and who about one week in each OF
four years did sewing for the Overtons at
their house, testified in behalf of the plain
tiff that his conduct toward his wife and
children was kind. When she was cross
questioned by Mr.. Erwin it was developed
that she only saw Mr.. Overton at meal
times during one week in each year. Mr.
Wilcox, telegraph operator, who was an
inmate of the Ovel ton home in the summer
and fall of 1882, testified that Mr.. Overton
was never cruel to his wife in his (Wilcox's)
presence. 81 %
In rebuttal, Mr.. Overton was again
called to the stand. His testimony was
denial of many of the statements that he
treated his wife cruelty and called her vile
names. He said:
l loved my wife as much as any man ever
loved his wife in the world. There wasn't day
until / found out her infidelity that didn't
kiss her three or four times. I loved my
wife, and have certain affection for hel
yet land here his voice almost choked by g
stif1ed sob). When she was sick with the mis-
carriage never was more surprised In my
life. She had a little vial partly filed with Q
white stuff like small peas. She said. 'That's
the medicine that brought on the miscarriage
and I'll never have another child When
discovered her infidelity I called her vile
names. Twas TALKING tn har ono ,,,opinr n 40